May 2/04 10:27 am - Burnaby Velodrome Race Series #3

Canadian National Team members Lori-Ann Muenzer and Mandy Poitras gave their legs a final workout before boarding planes and flying to Australia for the upcoming World Cup Track Event and the World Track Championships. Muenzer broke her own record in the 200m (previously 11.91), clocking the fastest time of any competitor during the weekend, an 11.77 on the Burnaby boards. She then set the time standard for women in the 500m with a time of 35.97. Poitras was busy in the mass start events, racing and placing in both A and B Group mass start events to get in a final few laps before the long journey to the land down under.

In the A Group, it was Matt Chater cleaning up, with wins across most events, including an exciting best of 3 ride final against Muenzer in the sprint finals. Granby Quebec's David McElhaw returned to Burnaby and shone in the 500m Time Trial with the winning time of 35.34.

Andy George used his sprinting and short distance prowess to out muscle Burnaby Velodrome Club President, Ted Ritter, in the B Group Omnium. Nipping at Ted's heels in the omnium was youngster Mike Burns of Devo.

Another Devo rider, Naomi Cooper, took the overall in the C Group, competing against a young woman Naomi might see at the upcoming Jr World Track Championships, Tela Crane of Washington. Renee Duprel, former US National Track Champion, brought up Tela and her Rad Racing teammates for a good weekend of racing as they get prepared for the US Jr. National Track Champs and the Jr. World Track Champs to be held at the still-in-construction ADT Centre 250m indoor velodrome in Los Angeles. The riders did well on the 47 degrees at Burnaby and will have some great experience going into the Los Angeles Facility.

While not an omnium event, the loudest cheers of the weekend went to Naomi Cooper who did a 2000m pursuit to make the qualifying time standard for Jr Track Worlds. Naomi shattered the 2.51:00 time standard with her 2.45:40 time.

And already a US Jr Champion at the ripe old age of 12 years, Benny Swedberg of Rad Racing took the overall junior omnium ahead of local youngster Cody Campbell.

The next Burnaby Velodrome event is only a month away -- BC Provincial Track Championships will be held at the Burnaby Velodrome June 18-20, 2004.